Clothes cylinder for washing machines



Jain. 3, 1928. 1,654,589

w. K. HOWE CLOTHES CYLINDER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1921 BY am AT ORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINTHROP KEITH HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T GENERAL RAILWAY CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A.

CLOTHES CYLINDER FOR WASHING MACHINES.

, Application filed. August 25, 1921 Serial No. 495,350.

The present invention relates to clothes drums or cylinders for washing machines, and particularly to the type of clothes cylinders which are oscillated or rotated in a suitable tub of water when in use.

Clothes cylinders or drums of this kind have commonly been made entirely of wood, because they are cheap, do not readily corrode, and are not affected by electrolytic action. The wooden end walls, however, swell more transversely of the grain of the wood than with it and thereby warp out of shape, so that if the ends are made round at the start, they swell elliptical and some- ]5 times rub against the tub in cases where moderate clearances are allowed. The ends may be made elliptical initially so as-to swell round when wet; but this is objectionable because itmeansthe cylinder wabbles when dry. Also, the fastening of the slats to the end walls constitute a source of trouble; and the slats may become loose in course'of time due to the softening of the wood on account of its continued exposure to moisture.

With the above considerations in mind, the objects of the present invention are to improve the construction of washing machine cylinders by choosing the material and construction best adapted for each part of the cylinder. For instance, since the swelling and warping of the wood is particularly objectionable in' the end walls, on account of the difficulty of running the grain of the wood uniformly in all directions, in accordance with the present invention, metal is used for the end walls. On the other hand, it is preferred to use wooden slats for they are easily provided with openings to allow water to pass freely into and out of the cylinder without leaving sharp and dangerous edges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a clothes cylinder which is held against removal by the end walls of the cylinder itself, rather than by some movable latch or fastening means which may loosen, or wear out, and give trouble.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas the description progresses, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a transverse section through the cyllnder, taken on the line 1'1, Fig. 2;

,Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of the cylinder particularly showing the cover, part of theend walls being cut away forclearness.

The particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, comprises in general two circular end walls or plates E formed with inwardly extending flanges 1, between which are riveted slats S of suitable material. The ends of the flanges 1 on these end walls are rolled to form a head 1, thereby eliminat ng sharp edges that might injure the hands of the operator, or tear the clothes when filling the cylinder or wringing clothes therefrom. These end walls E are made of suitable sheet metal, such as steel which has been galvanized, or a non-corroding metal,

such as aluminum, copper, nickeled zinc or the like, the metal used in the cylinder being selected with due regard to metal lining of the tub so as to avoid electrolytic action, caused by dis-similar metals in electrical contact and in an intervening'electrolyte, such as water containing washing compound. At the center and on the outside of each end wall E is riveted a circular plate 2 having an integral bearing boss, one of these bearing bosses forming a socket, triangular, square, or otherwise polygonal in cross section to. receive a similar shaped driving member of the operating mechanism of the Washing machine (not shown). The other bearing boss is intended to be supported by a journal of suitable construction.

The slats S are preferably-made of wood, although metal slats may be used if desired. The usual holes 3 for water to pass through the slats are formed with rounded edges. These slats are riveted to the flanges 1 on the inside, with spaces between, as shown, for about around the circumference, the remaining space constituting the opening for Spaced around the inside of the cylinder are several clothes lifters 5, live being shown in this instance. These lifters serve to lift the clothes up and drop them back into the water as the cylinder is rotated or oscillated. They are fastened to the end walls and reinforcing band by wood screws, as shown.

The cover O for the cylinder comprises several slats, secured together by three straps G6 and 7 of metal riveted thereto, to form a panel of the same curvature as the cylinder. The two straps 66 near the ends of the cover extend at each end beyond the edges of the cover so as to engage the slats on each side of the opening, and thereby prevent the cover dropping into the cylinder. The slats of the cover C are cut a little shorter than the distance between the end walls E, so that if one end of the cover is pushed fully back under the flange 1 of oneend wall, the other end may pass by the flange 1 of the other end wall. To maintain the cover C midway between the end walls, flat springs 8 are riveted to the outside of the end walls, and to the outer ends of these springs are riveted studs 9 which extend through holes in the end walls and to which shoes 10 are fastened. These shoes 10 bear against the opposite ends of some of the slats of the cover, thereby maintaining the cover in position below or behind the flanges of both end walls. Curved brackets 11 are riveted to the end walls E of the cylinder adjacent the opening to guide and support the cover C as it is put in place.

The cover 0 is placed on the cylinder by inserting one end of the cover between the flange 1 and bracket 11 of one end wall E, hand holes 12 being provided to enable the cover to be conveniently handled; and the cover is then forced endwise, pushing back the shoes 10 at that end of the cylinder,

until the other end of the cover can move in past its, co-operating flange 1. \Vhen the cover is released, the springs 8 will force it to its middle position, where it is held against outward movement by the flanges 1 and against inward movement by its end straps 66.

Having now fully described one specific en'ibodiment of my invention. what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A washing machine cylinder (:ompris ing, two circular metallic end walls, a pe ripheral wall connecting said 'end walls and extending only part way around the edge of said walls to form a cylinder having a large opening, a cover for said opening, and means for maintaining said cover in a predetermined relation with said end walls including means extending through a small opening in an end wall, and a flat spring fastened to the end wallfor urging said means into said small opening.

2A washingmachine cylinder comprismg, two c rcular metall c end walls, a" peripheral wall joining said circular walls and extending only part way around these walls to form a cylinder having alarge opening, and cover spacing means extending through a small opening in one of said walls forced inwardly by a flat spring riveted to said end wall for engaging a cover for said large opening.

3. An end wall for washing machine cylinders comprising, a circular metallic wall having a small opening near the periphery thereof, a peripheral flange extending at right angles to said end wall for securing a.

of said cylinder in engagement with said flange con'iprising a fiat spring riveted to said circular wall so that its end overlies said small opening, and a plunger fastened .to said spring through said small. opening having an enlarged portion at the free end thereof so that said spring can be bent from said circular wall a limited distance only.

5. A washing machine cylinder comprising. two circular metallic end walls, a neripheral wall joining said. end walls to form a cylinder having a large opening, a cover for said opening, and means for holding said cover in a predetermined position including a. flat spring riveted to one of said walls having its free end overlying a small opening in said wall, and a plunger fastened to said spring and passing through said small opening and having an enlarged portion at its free end, whereby the plunger may be withdrawn only a limited distance from said small opening.

6. A washing machine cylinder COll'lPl'iS- ing,two circular end walls tern'iinating in beads extending about the periphery of said walls, a peripheral wall joining said end walls to form a cylinder having a large opening, a small opening in one of said end walls adjacent said large opening, and a spring pressed plunger extending through said small opening for holding a cover for said large opening in a predetermined position. I l

7. A clothes cylinder for washing machines having an opening and provided with a cover slightly larger than said opening, and resilient means connected to. the cylinder proper for yieldingly maintaining said cover in said opening.

8. A washing machine cylinder having an opening, pockets -facing each other on opposite ends of the opening, a cover having ends adapted to flt in said pockets, and spring means for yieldingly maintaining said cover in a middle position with its ends in said pockets.

9. A washing machine cylinder having an opening and provided with inwardly extending flanges opposite said opening, a cover having ends adapted to fit under said flanges, means for preventing the cover from falling into said drum, and resilient means connected to the ends of the cylinder for yieldingly maintaining said cover in a middle position.

10,15 washing machine cylinder comprising, sheet metal end walls with inwardly pro- I jecting flanges, wooden slats fastened to said flanges on the inside partway around the cylinder to leave an opening for the insert-ion and withdrawal of the clothes, a cover for the opening comprising similar slats whose ends are adapted to fit under said flanges, straps fastened to the outside of the slats of the cover and having projecting ends adapted toengage the slats adjacent the opening, and springs for yieldingly maintaining the cover in the middle position with its ends behind said flanges.

11. A washing machine cylinder comprising, metallicflanged end walls provided with holes adjacent said flanges, a cover in overlapped relation with both of said flanges, and sprmg-pressed members extending through said holes for maintaining said cover in such overlapped relation.

12. A washing machine cylinder compris-. ing, metallic flanged end walls provided with holes adjacent said flanges, a cover in overlapped relation with both of said flanges, means for supporting the cover against inward movement, and spring-pressed means extending through said holes for maintaining said cover in its middle position.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

.WINTHROP KEITH HOWE. 

